December 21, 2004
PARIS - Two French reporters held hostage for four months in Iraq were released Tuesday and handed over to French authorities."I have a profound joy in announcing to you that Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot have just been freed by the Islamic Army," Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin told the Senate, which erupted with applause.
Chesnot's brother, Thierry, said the two men were in good health. "It's the best Christmas present we could get," he said of the release.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous said the two men were expected in France on Wednesday. They were handed over to French authorities in the Iraqi capital, he said.
You might know the Islamic Army of Iraq through their latest propoganda video, releasing two hostages from Sri Lanka and Bangledesh, participating in a joint statement of terrorism, and beheading countless innocents. The story of the two French hostages would be riviting if they will ever detail their last four months. If you recall, around October Frech President Jaques Chirac publically scolded the U.S. for an assault that supposedly forced two cars carrying the journalists to Syria in an exchange.
Update 12/22:
Reuters reports the French hostages were not freed due to a ransom paid. I'm a bit skeptical about this however based upon other hostages being released because of a ransom. France also indicated they were paying a ransom for these two journalists over a month ago.
Cross-posted at In the Bullpen
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